A technique to fractionate dissolved organic materials (DOMs) from low DOM water (<5 mg/l) was developed by using triple columns of DAX-8 adsorption resin, one column of AG-MP-50 cationic resin, and another column of WA 10 weak anionic resin in sequence. The procedure was then applied to fractionate water samples obtained at various sampling locations throughout two surface water treatment plants (WTPs) in central New Jersey to study its effectiveness, DOM occurrence, and variation along treatment units. The treatment plants utilize different treatment methods, hence producing variability in DOM fractions suitable for examining the procedure's effectiveness. This procedure was compared with current fractionation protocols and proved to be accurate in fractionation of low DOM water. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.